PROTESTS BREAK OUT OVER YOUTH SLAYINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000939 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2021 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE SUBJECT: PROTESTS BREAK OUT OVER YOUTH SLAYINGS CARACAS 00000939 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor, for Reason 1.4(b). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) Venezuelans were shocked by the April 4 discovery of the slain bodies of three young brothers and their driver who had been kidnapped in Caracas 41 days before. The kidnappers, alleged publicly to be Caracas Metropolitan Police officers, demanded a US$4.5 million ransom from the children's father, a Canadian businessman living in Venezuela, which he was unable to pay. Multiple protests against the government broke out on April 5, and one cameraman was shot and killed in Caracas while covering a demonstration. Government spokespersons vowed to solve the murders, but also took advantage of the crime to call for new legislation creating a national police force under authority of the national government. The head of the Metropolitan Police was replaced late on April 5. Coming on the heels of another high-profile kidnapping/murder case of an Italian-Venezuelan businessman, this crime strikes a chord with the public because of the execution-style killings of the young victims. End summary. -------------- Bodies of Three Youths, Driver, Discovered -------------- ¶2. (U) The bodies of John Faddoul, 17; Kevin Faddoul, 13; and Jason Faddoul, 12, were found in San Francisco de Yare, 18 miles south of Caracas, on April 4. The body of 30-year-old Miguel Rivas, the children's driver, was also discovered. The four were reportedly kidnapped while on the way to the Catholic school in Caracas on February 23. Press reports said the kidnappers wore uniforms of the Caracas Metropolitan Police, and the government later admitted that police officials were under investigation. The bodies were reportedly found with gunshot wounds to the heads that had been inflicted three days prior to the discovery. The lawyer for the Faddoul family said that the father, John Faddoul, who is a Canadian businessman living for many years in Venezuela, was unable to pay the US$4.5 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers. Press reports indicated that the three slain youths also held Canadian citizenship. Public vigils for the youths' return had been held since February 23, including a special mass conducted by newly-installed Cardinal Jorge Urosa. Urosa issued a televised message to Venezuelans urging peace and support for authorities investigating the murders. -------------- -------------- BRV Reaction: Police Reform, Immediate and Future -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) Minister of Interior Jesse Chacon announced the discovery late on April 4, adding that he called Mr. Faddoul personally to inform him of his children's fate. Chacon and other Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials vowed to solve the murders. Chacon, however, called for immediate passage of the National Police Law pending before the National Assembly that would give the national government effective control over all state and municipal police forces. National Assembly President Nicolas Maduro announced that he had ordered the relevant committee to report out the bill by April 17, after Holy Week, for consideration by the full Assembly. Late on April 5, Caracas Metropolitan Mayor Juan Barreto announced he had named National Guard Brigadier General Juan Romero Figueredo as the new director of the Caracas Metropolitan Police. In addition, he announced a new command staff ("estado mayor") comprised of 11 military officers, 6 from the reserve corps (directly controlled by Chavez) and 5 from active duty. Joining the command staff will be three members of the Caracas District Council, the head of the fire department, and the director of public CARACAS 00000939 002.2 OF 002 safety. -------------- Protests Flare Up, One Reporter Killed -------------- ¶4. (U) Small groups of demonstrators began blocking streets in Caracas and elsewhere in the country on April 5, expressing outrage at the inability of the BRV to prevent the crime and at the alleged police complicity. Students at the Andres Bello Catholic University (UCAB) blocked a key highway throughout most of the day in protest. Meanwhile, Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles and Primero Justicia leader Gerardo Blyde led a protest in front of the Ministry of Interior. The National Resistance Command, an opposition group, called for nationwide demonstrations, though it was not clear whether the regional demonstrations were of significant size. Jorge Aguirre, a photographer for Caracas daily El Mundo died after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest while covering a demonstration at Plaza Venezuela held by students of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV). By the afternoon, National Guard troops were present in several parts of eastern Caracas but did not try to break up the protests. -------------- A Week of Violent Crime -------------- ¶5. (U) The horrendous murders come just a week after the March 29 kidnapping and murder of Filippo Sindoni, an Italian-born businessman from Aragua State. BRV officials denied reports that Aragua State Police were involved in the killing. Also, on March 29, the bodyguard for Chacao Mayor Leopoldo Lopez was murdered in an apparent car-jacking attempt. There were also unconfirmed reports of assassination attempts of one Supreme Court magistrate and of the Governor of Monogas. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) The case is striking because of the brutal manner in which the youths were murdered. Crime has been a growing problem in Venezuela, but this series of crimes has ratcheted up general public discontent, principally among Caracas' middle and upper class. The demonstrations are notable because they appear largely dominated by students -- an unusual departure from past opposition protests. Both sides will spin the crime to their advantage: the Chavistas in their call for a new (Chavez-controlled) police force and the opposition in its claims that Venezuela is spiraling down into chaos. While we do not see this evolving into a full-blown social crisis at this point, it does demonstrate continued strong tensions within Venezuela. It will create yet another vulnerability for Chavez as Venezuela's basic public services continue to deteriorate. The BRV will need to act quickly to show it is trying to address the crime problem. BROWNFIELD